The Women's Prize for Fiction 2013 launches with new partners, sponsors and judges

Oscar-nominated actor Miranda Richardson to chair a panel of judges for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2013. Also announced: funding and new partnerships for the Prize

Now in its eighteenth year, the Women's Prize for Fiction was set up to celebrate excellence, originality and accessibility in writing by women throughout the world.  Known from 1996 to 2012 as the Orange Prize for Fiction, it is the UK's most prestigious annual book award for fiction written by a woman and also provides a range of educational, literacy or research initiatives to support reading and writing.

For 2013, the Prize will be privately funded while headline sponsorship negotiations for 2014 and beyond are concluded. Funding has been provided in the form of gifts from companies and individual donors. Supporters include: Bilbary, Bob & Co, Richard & Elena Bridges, Cherie Blair, Christopher Foyle, Jill Green, Martha Lane Fox, Lansons Communications, Joanna Trollope, Sue Woodford-Hollick and others who wish to remain anonymous.

Kate Mosse, Chair of the Women's Prize for Fiction board, said: 'We were overwhelmed with interest from potential headline sponsors. However, it became clear sponsorship budgets for next year were already committed, so we took the decision to privately fund the Prize for 2013 while we finalised our arrangements for 2014 and beyond. We are delighted that such a wide range of people are supporting this exceptional year and thank them for their support.'

The Women's Prize for Fiction 2013 is also very pleased to announce a new partnership with Google who will be working with the organisers on a number of new initiatives which will support the prize's ambition of reaching a wider, international audience. Google's platforms such as Google+ and YouTube, will help to connect authors and judges with a large online audience from around the world.

The Prize will also be continuing its successful, long-term partnerships with Southbank Centre, Grazia magazine, The Reading Agency and Booktrust, who has managed the Prize since 1996.

Miranda Richardson will chair a panel of judges including Razia Iqbal, Natasha Walter, Jojo Moyes and Rachel Johnson.

The Prize is also delighted to welcome four new members to the Women's Prize for Fiction Board - Felicity Blunt, Karen Jones, Nicola Mendelsohn and Joanna Prior.

The Women's Prize for Fiction 2013 is awarded annually for the best full novel of the year written by a woman and published in the UK. Any woman writing in English - whatever her nationality, country of residence, age or subject matter - is eligible.

The winner will receive a cheque for £30,000 and a limited edition bronze figurine known as a 'Bessie', created and donated by the artist Grizel Niven. Both are anonymously endowed.

The Women's Prize for Fiction 2013 will be awarded on 5 June 2012 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London following a series of public events.

More information about the Prize